SJ30 Sets London-Dubai record

Emivest Aerospace’s SJ30 light business jet established an unofficial speed record for its weight class on November 10, flying from London to Dubai in seven hours and seven minutes, including a 41-minute refueling stop in Istanbul, Turkey.

The flight, piloted by Action Aviation chairman Hamish Harding and Emivest’s Bryan Dennison, covered a great-circle distance of 3,470 sm for an average speed of 424 knots. The London-Dubai speed dash by SJ30 S/N 007 is claimed to be the fastest time recorded for any airplane weighing less than 20,000 pounds. A Gulfstream V set the overall speed record between London and Dubai in 1997, flying nonstop at an average speed of 452 knots.

Commenting on the record flight, Harding noted, “With a high-speed cruise of 486 knots and a range of 2,500 nautical miles, the SJ30 has truly exceptional performance for a light jet. Breaking records has become almost a habit.”

Action Aviation is the SJ30’s Middle East distributor. Dubai-based Emivest in June became the majority shareholder of the San Antonio, Texas-based aircraft manufacturer (formerly known as Sino Swearingen) when it agreed to pump a minimum of $150 million into the company to restart and accelerate production of the light jet.

The record-setting SJ30 is parked this week at the Action Aviation pavilion (OD5).